Insulated service splicer assembly



INVENTORS L. S. LVA/CH z/P. E. L. .ELDR/DGE LYNCH, JR., ETAL.

Filed April 5, 1964 INSULATED SERVICE SPLICER ASSEMBLY oct. 25 1966 United States Patent O 3,281,524 INSULATED SERVICE SPLICER ASSEMBLY Leslie S. Lynch, Jr., Union, and Edward L. Eldridge, Warren Township, NJ., assignors to The Thomas & Betts Co., Elizabeth, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 357,173 1 Claim. (Cl. 174-84) This invention relates to an insulated service s-plicer Aassembly for connection of conductor wires electrically and in sealed relation. The invention has features of adaptability Isuch that it may -be manufactured in standard sizes which will accommodate a large variety of sizes of wires and insulation coverings therefor. The device is highly novel and practical in construction, and dur-able and simple in application and highly effective in use.

The drawings, illustrating procedures and devices useful in carrying out the invention, and the description below, are exemplary only of the invention, which `shall be deemed to cover all other devices and procedures coming within the scope and purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken at line 1-1 of FIG. 2, of an insulated service splicer embodying the invention, as initially manufactured and prior to use,

IFIG. 2 is an end elevational view thereof, taken at line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a `similar View, showing the splicer of FIG. l, in use, receiving a pair of conductors and connecting and effectively enclosing the same `dielectrically, and

FIG. 4 is a similar view, showing the insulated assembly of FIG. 3 after compression.

As shown in the drawings, the device of this invention com-prises a body core of elongated, tubular form, open at both ends 11 and 12 to receive conductors 13, 14, which may be single wires, stranded wires or cables extending from insulating sheaths 36, 37, received in the inwardly extending bores or recesses 15, 16 (FIG. l) defined by the web portion 17 (FIG. 3) of the core. A quantity of sealant or oxygen-excluding ller 18, 19 is inserted into the recesses 15, 16 (FIG. l) the parts being preferably so proportioned that the sealant 18, 19 flows or oozes, on the assembly of the parts, to iill any voids there- A dielectric insulating sheath 23 is provided, in accordance with the invention, of greater length than the body core 1d and medially receives the latter and extends substantially beyond the longitudinal ends thereof, the end portions 24, of the dielectric insulating sheath being formed of greater diameter than the body core. The major length of the insulating sheath 23 is formed intern-ally in close conformity to the outer diameter of the core 10, to thereby snugly receive the latter on assembly of the parts, as shown in the drawings.

Insulating sheath 23 may be formed of any desired or convenient plastic or other material, such as nylon; the `sheath ends 24, 25 have preferably inwardly directed shoulder portions 26, 27 connected with the main tubular portion 23 and forming stop abutments for substantially cup-shaped exi'ble sealing bushings 28, 29 positioned within the enlarged ends 24, 25 of the insulation. The

3,281,524 Patented Oct. 25, 1966 ICC outer, free ends of the enlarged portions 24, 25 of the insulating sheath are reentrantly turned or rolled, as by heat, pressure or other means, and bear against the bushings and hold the latter against the shouldered portions 26, 27 of the insulating sheath 23, on assembly of the parts. The flexible sealing bushings 28, 29 have inwardly directed web portions 32, 33 preferably medially apertured as at 34, 35 to receive the conductors 13, 14 and their insulation coverings 36, 37.

On assembly of the parts (FIG. 3) the conductors 13, 14 are inserted into the recesses 15, 16 in the body core 10, moving through the openings 34, 3S of the webs 32, 33 of the bushings 28 and 29, the web portions of the bushings folding inwardly (FIG. 3) into tight sealing engagement with the insulation coverings 36, 37 of the conductors 13, 14. On assembly of the parts as above noted (FIG. 3) the conductors 13, 14 will be effectively connected electrically; the assembly may then be inserted into -a suitable crimping or compression device to further interlock the parts (FIG. 4).

As will be appreciated from the disclosure herein, the device of the invention is adapted to receive and hold Wires of various diameters to the diameter of the bores or recesses 11, 12, and the sealing bushings 28, 29 are adapted to have sealing engagement with the insulated portions of the cables -or wires of a large range of different diameters.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An insulated splice and electrical connection comprising an elongated tubular body core formed of electrically conductive material open at both ends and having an intermediate web portion forming opposed recesses to receive conductors, a `dielectric insulating sheath of greater length than the core medially receiving and enclosing the core and extending substantially beyond the longitudinal ends thereof, said sheath being formed with end portions of substantially greater diameter than said core, said end portions each having an inwardly tapering shoulder where they connect with the main tubular portion of the insulating sheath forming a stop abutment, a cup-shaped sealing bushing within each of said end portions and in contact with said stop abutment, each of said bushings having a medially apertured web portion, a pair of electrical conductors extending axially from insulating covers, said covers extending through the apertures of the bushings and abutting against the ends of said body core with the conductors extending into the body core recesses, said body core being crimped about said conductors to secure the same therewithin.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,740,101 3/1956 Betts 174-841 X 3,0l0,184 1l/1961 Forney 174-84 X 3,165,575 1/1965 Lynch et al 174-84 LEWIS H. MYERS, Primary Examiner.

DARRELL L. CLAY, JOHN F. BURNS, ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiners. 

